By Michael Adeboboye, Chairman of Board, Congress of African Journalists (CAJ)
Ondo Central Senatorial Race 2027
At a time when public trust in leadership is at an all-time low, Dr. Barr. Olumuyiwa Adu “Cubana” is offering Ondo Central something different. His supporters call his 2027 senatorial bid “a divine agenda projected by God-the-Father and lifted by the people themselves.” He is not, they insist, the product of godfathers or political deals. Instead, he brings a rare blend — the legal acumen of a courtroom advocate, the professional discipline of a trained administrator, and the street-level empathy of a philanthropist who has walked the towns he now seeks to represent.
THE BID WITHOUT BROKERAGE
If the 2027 Ondo Central Senate race has a campaign built on biography, it belongs to Dr. Adu. His team is unambiguous: “Dr. Adu’s ambition is a divine agenda projected by GOD-THE FATHER and it’s being lifted by the people themselves. Dr. Adu is not being pushed by GODFATHERS or POLITICAL DEALS.”
That language is deliberate. In a political climate where patronage networks often decide tickets before primaries, Adu’s pitch is the opposite of backroom brokerage. “Undoubtedly, public trust in leadership is at an all-time low,” his profile states. “Adu is bringing a refreshing alternative — a blend of professional expertise, legal acumen, and street-level empathy.”
LAWYER, ADVOCATE, CHANGEMAKER
Supporters argue his CV fills a gap they see in the Red Chamber: “As a lawyer and advocate, he understands the machinery of governance. As a philanthropist, he understands the pulse of the people. This unique combination makes him a perfect fit for the Senate to be not just a lawmaker, but a changemaker.”
It is a two-pronged case: competence to draft and interrogate legislation, and compassion to ensure bills reach the grassroots. “Dr. Adu is not just entering politics; he is extending his service,” the campaign says.
THE GROUND GAME: SIX LGAs, ONE DISTRICT
The claim is not abstract. Adu’s team says he has “identified positively with the good people of Ondo East, Ondo West, Akure North, Akure South, Idanre and Ifedore local government areas.” That covers the entire Ondo Central senatorial district — a sweep that suggests retail politics, not radio politics.
In those LGAs, his name is tied to years of philanthropy before politics. Medical outreaches, scholarships, legal aid for indigent clients, and youth empowerment drives are regularly cited by constituents as his introduction. The “Cubana” moniker, once a social tag, has been rebranded in campaign circles to mean “community backbone.”
THE NO-GODFATHER NARRATIVE
Ondo politics has its kingmakers. Adu’s contrast is deliberate: not being pushed by GODFATHERS or POLITICAL DEALS._ The strategy turns a perceived weakness — no established machine — into a strength: direct accountability to voters. It resonates in a cycle where delegates and citizens alike say they are tired of “selection, not election.”
THE SENATE HE ENVISIONS
If elected, Adu’s agenda is expected to mirror his dual identity. Legal reform, judicial access for the poor, and oversight of MDAs would draw on his bar experience. Constituency projects targeting education, primary healthcare, and agrarian support — from Idanre’s cocoa belt to Akure’s urban wards and Ondo’s farmlands — would extend his philanthropy record.
The through-line is “leadership with kindness and competence.” In a Senate often criticized as distant, Adu is betting Ondo Central wants a senator who files motions and still picks calls.
Dr. Barr. Olumuyiwa Adu “Cubana” is not running as a political product. He is running as a “divine agenda… lifted by the people.” Whether that’s enough to beat established structures in 2027 will be tested at the polls. For now, from Ondo East to Ifedore, the name on the lips of traders, students, and farmers is the same: the lawyer who came with help before he came with a poster
